People Operations Manager

The Menu Partners; Bicester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-paced food production and distribution business is seeking an HR Operations Manager for their Bicester site. In this newly created role, you will drive workforce performance, shape site culture and ensure effective employee relations. Candidates must have hands-on HR experience, ideally in an operational environment, alongside CIPD Level 5 or equivalent. Join us to be part of a growing business invested in true operational HR partnership and influence key standards and culture.

Qualifications

• Hands-on HR experience in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Ability to influence operational outcomes within a leadership team.
• Strong decision-making capability and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage employee relations activities.
• Support operational planning across leadership.
• Drive management development initiatives.

Skills

Proven experience in a hands‑on HR/ER role

CIPD Level 5+ or equivalent

Multi‑site operational HR exposure

Strong track record of managing complex ER cases

Excellent knowledge of employment law

Confident communicator

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Job description

About The Menu Partners

The Menu Partners (TMP) is a fast-paced, high-performing food production and distribution business supporting premium hospitality customers. Our people are central to our success, and as we continue to grow, we’re investing in building a strong, proactive HR function that supports our operational teams and drives performance.

The Opportunity

We’re recruiting for a new HR Operations Manager to join our Bicester Operations Management team as a core member of the site leadership group.

This role is designed to embed HR into everyday operational decision-making, with an ownership‑led HR approach. You will drive workforce performance, shape site culture, and ensure consistency and fairness across employee relations activity.

You’ll be the single point of accountability for HR at Bicester, supporting the site to deliver results through confident, commercially focused HR leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Case Ownership

• Lead and take full ownership of all ER activity including performance management, attendance, conduct, grievance and disciplinary cases
• Ensure consistent application of policies and legal compliance, with a strong focus on early intervention and risk management
• Drive fair and timely outcomes and support managers with confident decision‑making

Operational HR Partnership

• Act as an embedded operational partner within Bicester leadership — proactively influencing planning and people decisions
• Support and lead site initiatives that improve performance, engagement and management capability
• Challenge constructively and bring HR insight to operational priorities and workforce planning

Management Development & Capability

• Lead management development and training, improving confidence and consistency across people management
• Coach managers to strengthen performance culture and reduce escalations
• Provide coaching and capability‑building support to the wider HR team where appropriate

Projects, Reporting & Analytics

• Support HR projects aligned to operational priorities across TMP
• Collate, analyse and report key people/ER metrics and trends, providing insight and recommendations
• Ensure consistent standards and execution across the Bicester site and support other non‑London locations as needed

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in a hands‑on HR/ER role, ideally in a fast‑paced operational environment (e.g. logistics, FMCG, manufacturing, food production, distribution)
• CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent experience)
• Experience leading management training and capability programmes
• Multi‑site operational HR exposure
• Strong track record of managing complex ER cases end‑to‑end with confidence and sound judgement
• Ability to operate as part of a leadership team and influence operational outcomes
• Excellent knowledge of employment law and best practice ER processes
• Commercially minded with strong decision‑making capability and attention to detail
• Confident communicator who can challenge and support senior managers effectively

Why Join TMP?

• Be part of a growing business investing in HR as a true operational partner
• Newly created role with real autonomy, ownership and influence
• Opportunity to shape standards, culture and leadership capability on a key site